Is it me or is this really expensive?

[Pford75]

When you consider that a trade also has to maintain a vehicle, pay fuel costs, pay for any waste disposal from their work, contribute to their own pension, quote for/inspect work they hope to win without getting paid etc. I really don't think that £200/day is outrageous for a skilled trade (especially since they are in such short supply). When you see how attractive it is to sit around on benefits and have house, council tax etc paid for - you have to earn enough to make working worthwhile!

I don't begrudge spending my salary on skilled craftspeople - I see it as my own little contribution to wealth creation. :wink:

 

[JoceAndChris]

Hear hear.

Lord Finchley

Lord Finchley tried to mend the Electric Light
Himself. It struck him dead: And serve him right!
It is the business of the wealthy man
To give employment to the artisan.

Hillare Belloc

 

[Zebra]

Ooh I don't know. I'll have a go at a lot of things. Was thinking of going on a lime plastering course and having a go myself, when I get that far (still pointing brickwork at the moment). Don't know if the house will thank me. Or whether it'll all fall on my head as I'm sat in front of the fire!!

 

[Sue Wilkinson]

Was thinking of going on a lime plastering course and having a go myself

Do it! Find a decent one. If you can get anything with Rory Young presiding it will be good. But any SPAB recommended course should do. Quite apart from anything else, it's rather fun. Start small for practice and don't mind if it's not perfect at first. Lime plaster and lime pointing is pretty much a pleasure to work on. I'd far rather that than stripping paint!

 

[Flyfisher]

I don't begrudge spending my salary on skilled craftspeople - I see it as my own little contribution to wealth creation. :wink:

That's a fair point, though it would be more of an incentive against DIY if HM treasury would make repairs to the nation's heritage tax-deductable - and I don't mean just the VAT!

 

[biffvernon]

Right then. Anyone want a bespoke oak window? I've just trebled my prices.

 

[MatthewC]

I don't begrudge spending my salary on skilled craftspeople - I see it as my own little contribution to wealth creation. :wink:

That's a fair point, though it would be more of an incentive against DIY if HM treasury would make repairs to the nation's heritage tax-deductable - and I don't mean just the VAT!

That'll be the day - even just the VAT - but I'm not holding my breath! It's always baffled me that alterations to listed buildings are exempt from VAT but repairs are liable to VAT. That just seems 180 degrees away from logic as you'd have thought we'd be encouraged to keep them as-is, not alter them.

I also agree with paying properly for skilled craftspeople - preferably young, keen and local. I've had some great workers here, who are not afraid to turn their hands to other trades in which they have experience or recommend other skilled people.

 

[robgil]

Some trades men do take to cake though, got a quote to fit my boiler, 350 quid , I do the wet side of it all and they do the gas connection. They said its a days work.
Its a few hours work at best if you are on site and on price work.